Newsline: Somalia cuts diplomatic ties with Iran

Somalia cut diplomatic ties with Iran and ordered all Iranian diplomats and embassy staff out of the country. “This step has been taken after careful consideration and in response to the Republic of Iran’s continuous interference in Somalia’s internal affairs,” Somalia’s foreign ministry said in a statement. It did not mention the tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, nor give specifics about the alleged interference. The ministry accused Iran of trying to destabilize the Horn of Africa nation and said it has recalled its acting ambassador to Iran. Somalia joins Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Bahrain in cutting ties to Iran. Other countries have downgraded their ties to Iran.